February, 2015 | 6sqft

This troubled triplex penthouse at The Plaza just can’t seem to catch a break. It’s been a steady fall from grace ever since 2008, when an unhappy buyer who bought the $53.5 million place sight unseen sued for his $10.7 million deposit plus damages, claiming the home was misrepresented. Well, London-based developer Christian Candy purchased the pad for a comparatively dirt cheap $25.4 million in 2012 and tried to sell it for $59 million a couple of times in 2013. Now the plagued penthouse is back at the same $59 million asking. There’s something to be said for consistency. Let’s just hope the stars align this time and this “townhouse in the sky” finds an owner.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

Rent-Stabilized Tenant Gets Evicted for Listing His Apartment on Airbnb in a Landmark Decision

Inside the apartment. Image via Airbnb

February 20, 2015

Rent-Stabilized Tenant Gets Evicted for Listing His Apartment on Airbnb in a Landmark Decision

If you were questioning how truly serious the city is about its beef against Airbnb, look no further than this landmark ruling to evict a rent-stabilized tenant from his ultra-luxe 450 West 42nd Street building. The Post reports that Henry Ikezi was just given the boot by a Manhattan Housing Court judge for posting his 46th-floor Hell's Kitchen apartment on the site for $649 per night, about triple what he was paying at $6,670 per month. The home's market value is upwards of $9,000.
More on the landmark case here

February 20, 2015

One Vanderbilt May Offer Sky-High Observation Deck

When we talk about One Vanderbilt we typically focus on the base of the building–how it relates to its neighbor Grand Central and how it interacts with the planned public plaza in Vanderbilt Corridor. But at a presentation last night about the project, hosted by Open House New York and put on by Jamie van Klemperer, […]

February 20, 2015

Anti-Gentrification Architecture; See Williamsburg as It Was in the Early ’80s

Should we take note? Ugly architecture proves resilient against gentrification—at least in Amsterdam. [Failed Architecture] What did Williamsburg look like in ’80s? A 1984 documentary called Living Los Sures gives us an incredible look at the trendy neighborhood’s Latino past. [Brooklyn Magazine] Permits have been filed for a 305-unit property at 30 Sixth Avenue, part of Forest City […]

Real Estate Trends

February 20, 2015

NYC’s Oldest and Tallest Tree Grows in Alley Pond Park, Queens

In case you haven't noticed, we typically talk about buildings here at 6sqft, but today we're taking a look at a different kind of structure important to the urban fabric of New York City–a tree. But not just any tree; this is the oldest and tallest tree in the entire city, and it can be found in Alley Pond Park in Queens, between Douglaston and Bayside. Known as the Queens Giant, the record holder is a 134-foot (when last measured in 2005) tulip poplar tree that is believed to be 450 years old, according to Untapped Cities. Despite its impressive status, however, even the most seasoned New Yorkers don't know about this gem, which is likely what has led to its longevity.
Find out more here

History

February 20, 2015

Gluck+’s Inverted Outbuilding Features Corrugated Copper Hangar Doors

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Nestled among Douglas fir trees in Lake George, New York, sits an ultra-modern building with a corrugated copper facade. Designed as a guesthouse for a summer family retreat, the Inverted Outbuilding by Gluck+ beautifully combines wood, glass and rusty copper. The unusual use of the industrial material gives this home a totally unique look, emitting a warm maroon glow when the sun hits it.
Learn more about this copper-skin guesthouse

Architecture And Design

February 20, 2015

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Times Square Operates; When 11th Avenue Was Death Avenue

Lower East Side artists jazz up containers and cement cubes from the East Houston construction. [Bowery Boogie] An interview with Times Square‘s Director of Production and Operations, who’s responsible for all on-the-ground activity in the Square. [Urban Omnibus] A Bushwick designer held a fashion show on the L train. [BK Paper] Stand on the historic stage of […]

Uncategorized

February 20, 2015

Chelsea Townhouse Channels Its Inner Diva with Bold Patterns and Textures

Where’s Beyoncé when you need her? If she is indeed looking for another place, she might want to look at this Chelsea pad for design ideas. DHD Interiors gave this Robert Young Architecture-designed townhouse its own alter ego with bold textures and colors in the family and kids’ spaces and soft, polished style in other areas like the master bedroom and dining room.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

$450K Hell's Kitchen studio is a cozy refuge in the middle of Manhattan

$14M penthouse atop landmarked Astor building has pre-war details and palatial private terrace

This $6M Tribeca loft has bedrooms surrounded by terrace and sky

Asking $5.3M, the elusive Williamsburg townhouse is here, renovated and party-ready

$3.4M Park Slope triplex condo has a roof terrace with heavenly views

A fashion designer's cozy converted 1920s barn in upstate NY asks $2.9M

This $3.25M Gramercy two-bedroom comes with expansion potential–and a key to the park

For $4.6M, this classic Park Slope limestone updates history without erasing the details

This $3.2M waterfront house on the Hudson in Edgewater, NJ, would be right at home in Malibu

Asking $800K, this notable modern Princeton home once belonged to Joyce Carol Oates

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New Waldorf Astoria Owners Will Add Luxury Condos to the Iconic Hotel

image via KerSaber

February 20, 2015

New Waldorf Astoria Owners Will Add Luxury Condos to the Iconic Hotel

Back in October, it was revealed that Hilton Worldwide Holdings, who owned the landmark Waldorf Astoria since 1972, had agreed to sell the 1,232-room hotel to the Anbang Insurance Group Co., a financial and insurance company based in Beijing, for $1.95 billion. The deal closed just last week, and now the new owners are planning to convert part of the Art Deco building into luxury condominiums. According to The Real Deal, Anbang’s chairman Wu Xiaohui recently said: "We plan to renovate the two towers into luxury residential apartments with world-class amenities and finishes to reflect its culture and social status."
More details

February 19, 2015

Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson Buys $1.2M Gramercy Co-op

By Annie Doge

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, famous for his portrayal of neurotic lawyer Mitchell Pritchett on the sitcom Modern Family, has scooped up a $1,232,500 Gramercy Park co-op with his husband Justin Mikita, according to city records released today. The one-bedroom apartment at 200 East 16th Street is pretty standard, but will still make a lovely home for the couple when Ferguson isn't in LA filming.
Check out the unit here

February 19, 2015

REVEALED: Lions Group Developing Complementary Skyscrapers in Long Island City

By Ondel Hylton

Just north of Long Island City's Court Square and its once lonely Citigroup Building, the Long Island-based Lions Group will erect a complementary pair of residential towers fronting opposite sides of Jackson Avenue. Sensibly dubbed Jackson East (26-32 Jackson Avenue) and Jackson West (27-01 Jackson Avenue), the project is just one of the more than two dozen high-rise developments underway in LIC's Court Square / Queens Plaza area. While details remain scarce, renderings recently posted on the Lions Group's website depict that the taller east tower will rise nearly 40 stories while the shorter west building will be about 30.
More details ahead

February 19, 2015

$300K Rental at the Surrey Hotel Is the City’s Most Expensive One-Bedroom

Why buy a $3.6 million dollar home when you can pay the same amount of money to live in a modest one-bedroom for a year? The latest unit to join the city's ever-growing collection of priciest listings is a 1200-square-foot apartment in the Surrey Hotel at 20 East 76th Street. The Post reports that the pad—which is actually the 17th-floor penthouse if that sweetens the deal any—is currently renting for $300,000 a month and comes with one "oversized" bedroom, one-and-a-half bathrooms, and access to the hotel’s English rooftop garden and five-star amenities, which include a day spa and a place to pamper your pooch, amongst other perks.
Have a look around here

February 19, 2015

The Rise of the ‘Pencil Tower;’ Floor Plans and Prices Revealed for All Sony Tower Condos

What’s happening to NYC’s skyline? Get used to seeing more and more “pencil towers” everywhere. [NYT Opinion] We got a peek at the $150M penthouse yesterday. Now find out how much buyers will shell out for the converted Sony Tower condos, and what exactly they’ll get in exchange for their millions. [TRD] Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat announced […]

Real Estate Trends

February 19, 2015

REVEALED: Long Island City’s One Queens Plaza by Raymond Chan Architect

By Ondel Hylton

Here's your first look at an upcoming 18-story, 110-unit residential building called One Queens Plaza in Long Island City. Situated at 42-10 27th Street, the tower is being developed by the ever-growing-in-ambition New York Lions Group, also the developer of the two nearby Court Square towers that we revealed earlier today. Late last month, The Real Deal broke news of the development's initial construction permit filing, which calls for a 90,000-square-foot tower that will include 8,645 square feet of commercial space, as well as a 55-car parking garage. It will be just a single stop from Midtown along the N and R lines–meaning residents can be whisked from their doorsteps to Bloomingdales in roughly five minutes.
More on the project ahead

February 19, 2015

Dogs You Might Meet in Brooklyn; Secrets of the Chrysler Building

The Mayor’s State of the City speech doesn’t talk about what’s going on outside your front door; so here’s a look at specific city blocks according to the people who live on them. [NYT] Sorry Westminster, all the cool dogs are in Brooklyn. [NYO] It’s so cold that rare, snowy owls from the Arctic have […]

Uncategorized

February 19, 2015

Hip Loft with High Ceilings and Exposed Brick Is Quintessentially Williamsburg

This Williamsburg loft at 337 Kent Avenue is what Brooklyn living is all about: spacious, filled with character, and begging for interesting use of wall space like creating artwork out of hanging clothing or accessories. This is what real New York looks like—and you just have to shell out $3,500 a month to experience it.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

Proposed ‘Triboro Rx’ Subway Line Would Better Connect the Outer Boroughs

Map of the Triboro RX via RPA

February 19, 2015

Proposed ‘Triboro Rx’ Subway Line Would Better Connect the Outer Boroughs

The problem with moving to many affordable neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx is the lack of transportation options, but a new report from the Regional Plan Association calls for a Triboro RX subway line, which would weave together existing subway stops in far-reaching spots, as well as provide additional locations. And forget toll hikes to fund the line; it would run mostly above ground on existing freight train tracks, making implementation easy and cost effective.
More on the transportation proposal and see the full Triboro RX map

Get Moves Like Jagger in This West Village Rental Formerly Owned by the Rolling Stones

People always complain that when you travel for work you never really get to see the city. Well, that’s about to change, starting with this $7,500 a month fully furnished rental at 43 Perry Street. If it’s not enough to tell your friends you stayed in a West Village stunner, just try telling them your pad was once owned by The Rolling Stones… and then watch their jaws drop to the floor. Mission accomplished.
More pics inside

February 18, 2015

Get Transcendent in This Fort Greene Studio for $3K/Month

They say “cleanliness is next to godliness.” Well, if that’s the case, living in this sparkling former place of worship is probably sitting in godliness’s lap. That’s what this cool Gothic Revival studio offers for $2,995 per month. And as a bonus, you’ll be able to walk the paths of former Fort Greene resident, Walt Whitman.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

INTERVIEW: Marcelo Ertorteguy and Sara Valente of Stereotank on Fusing Architecture and Music

Marcelo and Sara at the unveiling of HeartBeat, image via Times Square NYC Flickr

February 18, 2015

INTERVIEW: Marcelo Ertorteguy and Sara Valente of Stereotank on Fusing Architecture and Music

Marcelo Ertorteguy and Sara Valente want you to do more than just admire their architectural designs from afar–they want you to hear them. The Venezuelan-born designers are the brains behind the creative firm Stereotank, where they create public art installations that fuse the disciplines of architecture, music, environmental sciences and much more. From Taku-Tanku, a traveling, floating house made out of water tanks, to HeartBeat, an urban drum installation currently on view in Times Square, all of Stereotank's innovative work takes a fresh and playful approach to socially conscious designs that engage their audiences. We recently chatted with Marcelo and Sara about how they developed their unique design philosophy and what their creations mean to them and New Yorkers.
Read the interview here

February 18, 2015

GIVEAWAY: Win a Spot in 6sqft’s Private Cooking Class at the Whole Foods Market Culinary Center!

By Alyssa Alimurung

Whether you're the worst cook in the world or a seasoned top chef, it's always fun to cook with others and learn more about the craft. We've partnered up with our friends at Whole Foods Market to host a private cooking class for eight lucky 6sqft readers in their Bowery Culinary Center! In this two-hour class you'll learn how to whip four delicious dishes—made with fresh and yummy products right from Whole Foods—in their state-of-the-art kitchen alongside pro chef and Culinary Center educator Chef Wai Chu. Wai will be teaching his hit class "Dumplings of the World", a fun, very hands-on course that will afford you plenty of Instagram-worthy moments alongside your delicious creations. To enter, all you need to do is: 1. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Fill out the form below and click Subscribe. You'll get a confirmation e-mail a couple minutes later. Be sure to click Confirm in the e-mail to be added to our list! P.S. If you're already signed up for our newsletter, just leave a comment below telling us what you love to cook. Email Address First Name Last Name 2. Like our Facebook page Just click the Like button below. And that's it—you're entered to win a spot in our cooking class! The deadline to enter is Wednesday, February 25th. We'll be announcing the winners on the 26th in our newsletter so make sure you're signed up. Please note that the class is will be on Wednesday, March 4th.
Check out the menu for our private course here

City Living

February 18, 2015

Extell’s UWS ‘Poor Door’ Building Now Taking Affordable Housing Applications

Easily 2014's most controversial building, Extell's 40 Riverside Boulevard—a.k.a. the "Poor Door" building, and recently rechristened 50 Riverside Boulevard in light of the scandal—is back in the news, this time for reasons far less unsavory. Starting today, qualified New Yorkers can apply for one of the building's 55 subsidized rentals.
Find out how much units are going for

February 18, 2015

Why the Plan to Toll Bridges Will Succeed; Is NYC Becoming a ‘Gated Community?’

Here’s why the new plan to toll NYC bridges—and other traffic pricing—will succeed. [Crain’s] With housing costs rising with no end in sight, NYC is in danger of becoming a “gated community.” [TRD] The rise of the “designer neighborhood” and a look at the developers turning the last of NYC’s undeveloped land into custom, mega-sized real estate […]

Real Estate Trends

February 18, 2015

In 2080 NYC Will Be Hotter, Rainier, and 39 Inches Underwater